Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-06-16
JAVA AND ITS PEOPLE.

Present Condition OF the Most Fertile
Island in the Tropics.
Java is recorded as the most fertile
and prosperous tropical island on the
globe. 1t is south of Borneo, and the
fourth island of the Malayan archipel-
ago in size, having IN area of 0,260
square miles. 1t is a colonial posses
sion of Holland. The surface of the
island is mountainous, a range of lofty
peaks running from one end of the
island to the other. and another range
skirting the south coast. All of these
mountains are of volcanic formation,
and there are on the island thirty-eight
volcanoes. the most of them constantly
active. Some of the most terrible erup-
tons on record have occurred on this
island. among which may be mentioned
the outbreaks of the volcano Papanday-
ang in the yeSr 1872, of Galunggong in
1922 and Krakatoa in 1882. Between
the peaks of the mountains in the GEN.
trail part of the island are several plat
eaus which are very fertile, and have
delightful climate, owing to their ele-
walton above the hot districts of the
shore. Along the north side of the island
is long, low and very fertile plain
All of the island is we'll watered. The
seasons are two, the wet and the dry,
and the temperature of the island IL
very equable. All tropical fruits, birds
| and animals abound in the lowlands,
and on the high plateaus all grains and
fruits of temperate climates can be sue
ccssfuliy raised. Java is one of the
principal coffee-grOwing countries in
the world; sugar is next in Importance;
then comes rice, of which two crops
are annually raised; indigo, pepper, tea
and tobacco are also exported. The
population of Java is estimated at over
IL, 800, 900. About $4,000 Europeans
reside on the island; there are also
about 100, 900 Chinese, and some TO-
900 Arabs and other foreign orientals;
| the rest are natives. The Javanese are
almost entirely occupied in agricul-
ture. though they have some knowledge
| of the mechanic arts, and make bricks
and tiles, build houses and boats. and
work in metals with some skill The
women of the country also weave
stout cotton cloth and make a coarse
silk cloth from raw silk imported from
|
race of Javanese must have had con-
siderable knowledge of architecture,
Judging from the remarkable speci-
mems of ancient temples. most of them
in ruins, to be seen throughout the ISL
and, but this knowledge has been en-
tirely lost. The Javanese have made
some progress in music, of which they
are passionately fond, and they have
both wind and stringed instruments.
In religion :he Javanese are Mohamme-
dams, this faith having been established
among them by the Arabs in the fif
teenth century. The principal unit in
Javanese politics is the village. whose
officers are all elected by the people,
and are charged witch the collection of
the taxes and the maintenance of pub
lie order. The native rulers are allowed
by the Dutch to retain their rank and
nominal power as regents. but the real
power is in the Governor-General ap-
pointed by the Netherlands Govern
ment, who is assisted by Vice-Presi-
dent and council of four, and has his
orders direct from the King of Holland.
Chicago Inter Ocean.